After the diplomatic ice age: USA and China resume dialogue

After the diplomatic ice age
USA and China resume dialogue

Under the administration of Donald Trump, the relationship between China and the US fell to an all-time low. Now the new US Secretary of State is meeting his counterpart from the People's Republic. There is no shortage of conflict-prone topics, as it becomes clear at the beginning.

It is a dialogue between competing superpowers: the new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met his Chinese colleague Yang Jiechi for the first time. The meeting in the US state of Alaska should lay the foundation for honest cooperation as rivals, not for conflict, said the spokeswoman for US President Joe Biden, Jen Psaki. "Our focus is on having an honest discussion, raising issues where we have concerns, and looking for ways and places we can work together," said Psaki.

The meeting in the city of Anchorage, the capital of Alaska, began immediately with mutual accusations, as journalists traveling with them described on Twitter. The press representatives were led out of the hall shortly after the opening statements.

There should be no lack of conflicting topics in the talks. The US criticizes China, among other things, for disregarding the human rights of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang and the citizens of Hong Kong, for unfair trade practices, cyber attacks and Beijing's urge to expand in the Indo-Pacific region. China, on the other hand, rejects US criticism as meddling in internal affairs and, for example, is calling for the punitive tariffs imposed under ex-President Donald Trump to be lifted. Beijing is also calling for an end to support for Taiwan, which China regards as part of the People's Republic. On other issues, such as combating climate change, both governments want to work together at least in principle.

US government wanted to meet in US

A high-ranking representative of the US government had already made the tenor for the meeting clear in advance, citing Blinken: "Relations with China will be competitive, if necessary, cooperative if possible, and hostile if need be."

The meeting was attended by Blinken and Yang, the Communist Party's highest foreign policy leader, as well as Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is subordinate to the Chinese power apparatus, and Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. The US government said it had insisted that the meeting take place on American soil.

Blinken had coordinated with US allies in Japan and South Korea immediately beforehand together with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as part of a trip to Asia. Blinken also called on China to use its influence on the neighboring country to a greater extent in its efforts to nuclear disarmament in North Korea. China has "a clear self-interest" in working towards the denuclearization of North Korea, Blinken said in Seoul.

Relations between the US and China, the two largest economies, had fallen under Trump to their worst level since diplomatic relations began in 1979. Biden's government is now adopting a less aggressive tone – but leaves no doubt that China is seen as a rival. Biden's government also wants to coordinate more closely with democratic allies in Asia and Europe on China. In addition, Biden has announced that he will once again campaign for the promotion of democracy and human rights in foreign policy around the world.

The US government had just this week imposed new sanctions on 24 other politicians and officials from China and Hong Kong because of the controversial Hong Kong electoral reform. The Beijing People's Congress last week voted for the reform in the Chinese Special Administrative Region, in which Beijing is cracking down on the democracy movement. According to critics, the new law would drastically reduce the influence of the opposition and strengthen the pro-Beijing camp.

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